Title
When Old Is New: Exploring The Potential Of Using Indigenous Stories To Construct Learning In Early Childhood Settings
Document Type
Conference Paper
Publication Date
2007
Abstract
Incorporating traditional indigenous stories in the Early Childhood Curriculum carries a powerful message of cultural diversity and change - from the past denigration of Indigenous South-African and Aboriginal cultures to appreciation and reinstatement of such cultures today. Storytelling has the ability to create the right learning environment for early childhood students. In this paper a report is given of an exploratory study of the traditional South African and Aboriginal Dreamtime stories, which are seen as possible vehicles and innovations to educate students in Early Childhood in Australia and South Africa. These stories will also be used to find links with different Learning Areas in the Early Childhood Curriculum. Exemplars of such exercises are illustrated by means of the South-African, "Wolf who wants to fly" and Australian, "Banjora, Uwappa and the Mundurras," indigenous stories. The reason for working across two continents is that in South Africa, as well as Australia, indigenous stories were kept alive over generations by transmitting them orally. Some comparisons between these two.
Recommended Citation
Van Staden, C., & Watson, R. (2007). When old is new: Exploring the potential of using indigenous stories to construct learning in early childhood settings. Paper presented at the AARE 2007 International Educational Research Conference. Fremantle, WA, 26-29 November.
Comments
Abstracts of papers presented at the AARE 2007 International Educational Research Conference may be accessed here